Security for Karen Read’s murder trial cost Massachusetts State Police $258,278

DEDHAM – As Karen Read prepares for her second murder trial, Massachusetts state police say they spent more than a quarter of a million dollars on security for her first trial.

State police released a breakdown of their expenses for Read’s first trial on Thursday.

Karen Read the security costs of the trial

Troopers at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham were paid $50,166.23 for 806 hours of regular duty and $208,112.71 more for 2,263.8 hours of overtime. The final bill for Massachusetts taxpayers was a whopping $258,278.94.

The process lasted two and a half months. It started with the selection of the jury April 16th and ended on July 1st when Judge Beverly Cannone declared the trial invalid after the jury said: “deeply divided” and could not reach a unanimous verdict.

The trial ended large crowds by supporters of both sides in front of the courthouse. When the mistrial became known, state police had to barricade the front.

Read’s second trial is set to begin January 27, 2025.

Who is Karen Read?

Read, 44, is charged with second-degree murder, leaving the scene and manslaughter in the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe January 29, 2022.

Prosecutors said she hit him with her SUV after a night of heavy drinking and left him to die in a snowstorm.

Read’s lawyers said she was framed and that O’Keefe was actually killed in Boston police officer Brian Albert’s Canton home and dragged outside. Read dropped O’Keefe off at Albert’s before his death.

Karen Read Appeal

Reading is appealing two charges against her: second-degree murder and leaving the scene. Oral arguments will be heard Nov. 6 before a full panel of Massachusetts’ highest court.

Read’s lawyers claim that several jurors came forward after the mistrial and said they unanimously agreed to acquit Read on those two counts, even though they never told Judge Cannone.

Prosecutors filed a brief with the Massachusetts Supreme Court on Wednesday saying there was no basis for dismissing the charges.